Thousand Oaks Police, Library Goals on Hold

Still determined to bolster police services and open the city’s library on Fridays, the City Council has decided to approve a two-year budget and consider those goals later when more money may be available.

Capping a marathon meeting that lasted more than six hours, council members unanimously ratified the $135.3-million spending plan for the 1995-96 and 1996-97 fiscal years early Thursday morning.

Although the operating budget does not include money for the council-designated priorities, the City Council is optimistic that some expected increases in revenues--combined with new proposed fee increases--will provide the needed cash by the end of this year.

“Since the city manager did not propose options to fund our priorities, I took his challenge seriously,” said Councilwoman Elois Zeanah, who unveiled several proposals of her own to increase revenues, including a $35 annual fee for landlords renting single-family residences.

To come up with the extra cash, council members also agreed to consider raising the cost to play at Los Robles Golf Course and the annual $55 library fee for out-of-towners.

Thousand Oaks is already expecting more money from a new state law granting cities a portion of sales tax revenues on auto leases. City officials estimate the new revenues will amount to about $150,000 a year, but say the total could be significantly higher.

Thousand Oaks’ overall sales tax revenues, however, may dip slightly this year because more San Fernando Valley shoppers who came to the Conejo Valley after the Northridge earthquake will continue returning to stores closer to their homes, City Manager Grant Brimhall said.

“There are a lot of variables, and later this year we should have a much better picture of what kind of effect these things will have,” Brimhall said.

Despite postponing decisions on adding two police patrols and keeping the library open seven days a week, the City Council accomplished other objectives during its lengthy budget hearing.

Council members agreed to spend $60,000 for an economic development manager, though they have yet to decide whether that person will be a city official or an advisor paid on a contract basis.

The council voted 4 to 1 to approve the new position, with Zeanah dissenting because she believes the job is not needed.

“Development is booming here,” she said. “Our staff is already backed up . . . what is your purpose on spending more money on economic development?”

Brimhall explained that the economic development manager would not focus on luring new retail or residential development to Thousand Oaks, but would instead work on persuading high-paying employers to move to the city.

The City Council also agreed to allow the Thousand Oaks Library to fill five positions.

“We’ve lost about 19 positions since 1991, when the belt-tightening started, so this is great,” library director Marvin Smith said. “These five new positions will take a lot of pressure off of us.”

But to open Fridays, the library would still need an additional $114,000--or enough for seven more full- and part-time positions, Smith said.

The meeting was not without its usual infighting. Council members approved a series of fees for users of the golf course and water and waste water services that are projected to bring an estimated $400,000 a year to Thousand Oaks’ general fund. The water service fees will be attached to bills.

Councilwoman Jaime Zukowski objected to the fees for water and waste water services, contending that such franchise fees for basic services are not legal without a vote of residents.

Zeanah also objected to the fees, labeling them a tax that should appear on the ballot. Zeanah also argued that the waste water fee should be handled along with increased sewer fees the council is considering.

But Mayor Andy Fox said he trusted City Atty. Mark Seller’s opinion that the in-lieu fees are not a tax and do not have to go before voters.

“At this point in time, it’s absolutely appropriate,” Fox snapped. “At this point, I have heard one person refer to it as a tax, but I defer to the professionals.”

The council has been discussing the budget since last February, when it set up a committee of residents to make recommendations on spending. The committee made 24 recommendations, 15 of which were included in the final budget.